Grant Ogilvie, education officer at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle, has assumed the role of Roman soldier Lucius of Luguvalium (the Roman name for Carlisle) in a new sound guide to the museum for the visually-impaired and blind, writes Jessie Anderson.
The guide was officially launched last term by the shadow minister for education, David Blunkett, who is himself blind. Mr Blunkett, with his black labrador Lucy, toured the museum using the sound guide and was enthusiastic about its value, especially for children.
“The audio tape brings the museum, particularly the Roman displays, alive, ” he said, and suggested it could usefully be adapted for sighted children. “You rarely know all about an exhibit, even with an explanatory plaque. The tape just adds that extra dimension.”
The guide was prepared by Grant Ogilvie in consultation with Vanessa Scott, the then co-ordinator for the Carlisle Society for the Blind, working together with a blind person, with the aim of giving visually-impaired visitors to the museum “as good an experience as a sighted person” and encouraging them to handle the many interactive exhibits. The tape concentrates specifically on the Roman displays, but if it is successful, the service may be extended to other areas of the museum.
* A technology helpline offering advice on technological issues facing primary and secondary teachers is being launched by Cardiff Institute of Higher Education, writes Iola Smith.
Senior lecturer Steve Marsh expects that a variety of problems will be raised by teachers, from purchasing electronic equipment to snags emerging from the information technology and electronics curriculum.
Following initial conversations with information technology teachers, he is convinced there is a considerable need for the service: “Today, technology is in a continual state of flux and it is impossible for any individual to have expertise in all areas. At the institute, we have access to a pool of knowledge from our colleagues. But what does a teacher do in a school, where he may be the only technology teacher?” It was to provide much-needed back-up for such an isolated teacher that Mr Marsh decided to instigate the help line. He believes that it will not be used solely to solve immediate problems, because it has considerable potential as a source of general advice to schools. “For example, we will be able to suggest ideas for technology projects for individual pupils, and provide information about new computers that schools obtain.”
The free helpline is being targetted initially at schools in South Glamorgan, but the hope is that the service will soon be extended to teachers elsewhere. Technology helpline 0222 506686.
